January 2026

Released April 08, 2026

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In January, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 9, rose in 22, and remained unchanged in 20.

• The highest unemployment rate was 6.7 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2.2 percent in Hawaii and South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.3 percent.

• In January, payroll jobs rose in 45 states and fell in 6. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in California and North Dakota. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.7 percent in District of Columbia.

Virginia

Employment snapshot

• In January, Virginia added 2,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 3.7 percent. In the prior month, Virginia lost 9,900 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Virginia lost 19,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.5 percentage points from 3.2 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Virginia is tied for 43rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In January, Virginia’s private sector added 6,100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 8,500 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Virginia lost 6,300 net private payroll jobs.

• In January, employment in Virginia fell by 5,861, and over the past 12 months it fell by 50,055.

• Virginia’s labor force participation rate fell to 63.8 percent in January from 63.9 percent and is tied for 17th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1 percentage point.

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Virginia

Payroll employment

• Virginia added 2,900 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Virginia lost 9,900 jobs. Virginia nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Virginia is tied for 43rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Virginia added 6,100 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Virginia lost 6,300 jobs. Virginia private sector payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 186,000 jobs in March, or 0.1 percent. Virginia is tied for 37th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From December 2025 to January 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+7,000) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+3,200).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-4,000) and Federal Government (-3,900).

From January 2025 to January 2026:

• The best performing sectors were State and Local Government (+14,700) and Private Education and Health Services (+13,900).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-26,000) and Professional and Business Services (-16,100).

Virginia

Labor force

The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.

• The labor force participation rate in Virginia fell to 63.8 percent in January from 63.9 percent in the prior month.

• Virginia is tied for 17th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Virginia was 66.1 percent occurring in March 2023, and the 10-year low was 63.4 percent occurring in June 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 61.9 percent in March.